 The Grapevine Swing
by Samuel Minturn Peck
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When I was a boy on the old plantation,
Down by the deep bayou -
The fairest spot of all creation
Under the arching blue -
When the wind came over the cotton and corn,
To the long, slim loop I'd spring
With brown feet bare, and a hat-brim torn,
And swing in the grapevine swing.
Swinging in the grapevine swing,
Laughing where the wild birds sing,
I dream and sigh
For the days gone by,
Swinging in the grapevine swing.
Out o'er the water lilies bonny
and bright
Back to the moss-green trees;
I shouted and laughed with a heart as light
As a wild rose tossed by the breeze.
The mocking bird joined in my reckless glee;
I longed for no angel's wing;
I was just as near heaven as I wanted to be
Swinging in the grapevine swing.
Swinging in the grapevine swing,
Laughing where the wild birds sing -
Oh, to be a boy
With a heart full of joy,
Swinging in the grapevine swing!
I'm weary at noon, I'm weary at night,
I'm fretted and sore of heart,
And care is sowing my locks with white
As I wend through the fevered mart.
I'm tired of the world with its pride and pomp,
And fame seems a worthless thing.
I'd barter it all for one day's romp,
And a swing in the grapevine swing.
Swinging in the grapevine swing,
Laughing where the wild birds sing -
I would I were away
From the world today,
Swinging in the grapevine swing.
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NOTES AND QUESTIONS
Biography:
Samuel Minturn Peck (1854-1886) is a native
of the South.
He was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and spent most of
his early years
in that city. He was gifted in music and became an excellent
amateur
pianist. His published works include Cap and Bells, Rhymes
and Roses,
and Rings and Love-Knots, from which "The Grapevine
Swing," one of his
most musical poems, is taken.
Discussion:
- Why does the poet call the old
plantation "The
fairest
spot of all creation"?
- What does he mean by "the
long, slim loop"?
- For what "days gone by" does the poet
sigh?
- What picture do
lines 6, 7, and 8, page 89, give you?
- What tells
you that the swing
was near the bayou?
- What is compared to the wild
rose?
- Why do
you think the poet would "barter it all for one
day's romp"?
- Find
in the Glossary the meaning of: creation; bonny;
reckless; fretted;
wend; pomp; fame.
- Pronounce: bayou; arching;
laughing.
Phrases for Study
arching blue, care is sowing, moss-green trees, fevered
mart, sore of
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